Construction underway on housing for Indigenous women in Lethbridge

Board Chair of the Blackfoot Family Lodge Society Lance Tail Feathers says he is grateful to finally be at this point after years of planning.

He believes it is important to ensure that affordable housing is available to women and children of Indigenous descent.

“It’s always challenging for young ladies to come into the city of Lethbridge and to try to get housing – there’s a stigma of rental units and stuff like that,” says Tail Feathers.

Residents in the phase one units will be able to enjoy an array of Blackfoot cultural programming such as life skills, nutrition, Blackfoot language, and other activities that are important to Blackfoot identity.

The Government of Alberta is contributing $3,384,900 towards the housing complex while the City of Lethbridge is giving another $300,000. Lafarge Canada is also aiding in construction with $10,000 of in-kind support.

Lethbridge-East MLA Nathan Neudorf says so many of the social challenges seen in the city start with housing, so he is proud to support this project and others like it.

“The province is committed to seeing this housing come through and to be a substantial partner in that and [to] contribute that $3.4 million is a huge chunk of that. I think the city and even some private businesses have contributed to that to try to make it even more successful,” says Neudorf. “I’m sure that we’ll see this come through and I look forward to the grand opening.”

Phase one is expected to be completed in May 2023. Dates for the second and third phases have yet to be determined.

A sign showing concept art for the Soaring Hearts Project in Lethbridge. (Image: Lethbridge News Now)

by David Opinko

Construction underway on housing for Indigenous women in Lethbridge

What's Happening